Chapter 104: A Chain of Stratagems, Fishing in Troubled Waters

Director Yetong of the Research Institute arrived.

Upon seeing the two corpses in the laboratory, his face turned ashen. When his gaze shifted to the shattered glass display case and saw it was empty, his fury ignited. "You say it was... that Huang Chengwang from the Great Xia?"

"Yes!" The answer came from the beautiful woman who had been serving tea to Lin Xiaosu earlier. Her face was now deathly pale. "Yesterday, I saw him at the airport with Mr. Watanabe."

"The Black Dragon Society sent people over recently, wanting to transfer the Purple Magic Stone to them for research. It’s clear they have designs on it. I rejected them, so it’s entirely possible they sent Huang Chengwang to take it by force!" Director Yetong declared. "Let’s go! To Etorofu Island!"

This situation was dictated by the unique nature of the Fusang nation.

Unlike the Great Xia, the military and the government in Fusang are separate entities. The Royal Research Institute belongs to the government, while the Black Dragon Society is backed by the military. Although the government and the military cooperate on the whole, they are also in competition in many fields, especially regarding high-tech sectors.

This stone was linked to a brand-new technology. The government wanted it, and the military wanted it too; mastering the most advanced technology would provide them with more bargaining chips in their political maneuvering.

That was why the Black Dragon Society had demanded the Royal Research Institute hand the stone over to them, arguing that the society was full of talent and already possessed extensive research results in the field of neutrinos, making it easier for them to achieve breakthroughs with the stone.

Director Yetong had naturally refused. The Black Dragon Society’s deputy leader, Gucun, had left in a huff at the time...

Were they willing to let it go? Obviously not!

"Director, is there another possibility?" A middle-aged man with glasses beside him slowly looked up.

"Speak, Ito," Director Yetong said, shifting his gaze toward him. This Ito was a man of great insight and was highly valued by the director.

Ito said, "I have reviewed Huang Chengwang’s file. He is a researcher with no record of genetic modification. Yet, the person who came tonight was clearly a supreme expert. Could someone be impersonating him?"

Yetong’s eyes grew calm... The people around him also quieted down...

Could someone be impersonating him?

Of course, it was possible!

As Ito pointed out, Huang Chengwang was a scientific researcher. While researchers might study genetic modification for others, they rarely underwent it themselves. Why? Because they knew better than anyone that genetic modification carried massive risks and severe side effects.

Researchers rely on their brains to make a living, not their physical prowess. If they were to ruin their minds in pursuit of combat ability, they would lose their livelihood. Unless a researcher suffered from a terminal illness that required immediate intervention, they were unlikely to take that path.

The possibility of impersonation was high.

Who could it be?

It could be the Hidden Dragon! Since the Hidden Dragon had already appeared—one had come last night and been killed—could another appear tonight? Of course!

Besides the Hidden Dragon, were there other possibilities?

Yes! The Black Dragon Society!

The Black Dragon Society was full of talent, possessing all kinds of experts. It was entirely possible they had impersonated Huang Chengwang to forcibly take the Purple Magic Stone. Now that they had succeeded, even if the Royal Research Institute wanted to cause trouble, the society could simply deny everything. At worst, they could just hand over a scapegoat. The Black Dragon Society had done such things more times than one could count...

A flurry of discussion and speculation broke out...

Director Yetong slowly raised his gaze. "It could be Huang Chengwang, it could be the Hidden Dragon in disguise, or it could be the Black Dragon Society... No matter how many possibilities exist, seeing is believing. Until we face Huang Chengwang in person, everything is just a hypothesis! Let's go! To Etorofu Island!"

Everyone nodded. Indeed, no matter how complex their theories were, they had to meet Huang Chengwang eventually. Only by seeing him in person, collecting his data, and matching it against the clues left at the Royal Research Institute could they truly determine if he was the one who broke in, killed their people, and stole the stone.

The subsequent developments would unfold in time, but the first step had to be a face-to-face confrontation.

On the sea between the main island and Etorofu, two heads surfaced, staring at the dozen or so vehicles speeding through the dark night. They also kept watch on the dozen or so speedboats that seemed to have appeared out of thin air on the water.

Changye’s heart rate accelerated. "They really came!"

"Of course. No matter how complicated their theories are, they cannot give up the chance to confront Huang Chengwang."

Changye asked, "Will Huang Chengwang really be taken by them?"

"That possibility is meaningless! Because that move is not part of our game..."

"Not part of the game?" Changye’s eyes widened. "Wasn't the goal of your chain of schemes to lure Huang Chengwang off the island to create an opportunity to kill him?"

"Naturally not!" Lin Xiaosu said. "All I needed was for them to come to the island, not the result of their interrogation of Huang Chengwang."

Changye pondered for a moment, her eyes slowly brightening. "I understand! We’ll infiltrate their ranks and fish in troubled waters! Is that it?"

"Yes!"

Changye stared at the dozens of people boarding the speedboats. "A dozen speedboats—the commotion they create will be enough... We are truly lucky they didn't take flying cars, otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to blend in."

"I have already checked. The Royal Research Institute only has two flying cars, which aren't enough for this many people. And since it is only a dozen miles from the institute to here, they had to travel by car and boat."

"You even calculated how many people would come?"

Lin Xiaosu smiled. "This depends on the nature of the Black Dragon Society. The society belongs to the military, and the Royal Research Institute belongs to the government. Fusang is different from our country; their military and government are at odds. The Black Dragon Society is notoriously treacherous, and the Royal Research Institute is deeply wary of them. Without sufficient manpower, they wouldn't have the confidence to stir up trouble on the society's turf."

Changye was a bit stunned...

What was this? A chain of brilliant schemes, with every step precisely controlled... Was this the kind of training they provided at Base 101? Good grief, he had only been at 101 for less than half a month and was already as shrewd as a ghost. What did that make her, someone who had lived in a small courtyard at 101 for years?

More than ten speedboats from the Royal Research Institute entered Etorofu Island at night.

Three hundred meters from the island, giant searchlights suddenly flared, illuminating the speedboats on the water. Behind the searchlights, countless red dots appeared—military targeting lasers. While they were of little use in actual combat, their psychological impact in the dark was immense, as almost everyone was bathed in the red glow.

"Who goes there?" The voice from the island was stern.

On the lead boat, Director Yetong stood up slowly, letting a red dot rest on his forehead. "Director Yetong of the Royal Research Institute, here to visit General Kuofei and Deputy Leader Gucun of the Black Dragon Society!"

The searchlight shifted to Director Yetong, revealing his face clearly. The faces of those around him were also clearly displayed. Whether or not the system behind the searchlight was connected to facial recognition, he could stand up to scrutiny—it was indeed him.

A figure appeared on the rocks at the edge of the island. "So it is Director Yetong. What brings you to the island so late at night?"

"I have already said it—I am here for a face-to-face meeting with General Kuofei and Deputy Leader Gucun!" Regarding high-level political maneuvering, Director Yetong would naturally not reveal his true intentions at this moment.

"The Director is welcome!"

Beneath the water in front of them, a gate seemed to slide open, causing ripples to spread across the surface...

The speedboats started and headed toward the island.

No one noticed that beneath two of the speedboats, there were two additional people.

The speedboats docked, and the group went ashore. Soldiers stood guard by the sea, but the lights had already been extinguished.

Suddenly, two soldiers collapsed at the same time.

In the next moment, their bodies were dragged into the bushes. There was a brief sound of clothes being exchanged, and then two soldiers emerged, smiling at each other before disappearing into the grass. Soon, they arrived in front of the council building on the island.

Inside the building, General Kuofei and Deputy Leader Gucun were receiving their guests.

Kuofei was not "fat"—in fact, he was somewhat gaunt. Gucun was not "lonely"; he was followed by a dozen experts from the Black Dragon Society.

There was no tea room, only opposing factions.

In the vast hall, three large overhead lights made everything bright as day as the two groups approached from the east and west. Everyone present was an expert; the unique, oppressive tension that only masters could sense made the empty hall feel somewhat crowded.

"General Kuofei, Leader Gucun!" Director Yetong stepped forward. "I have come here tonight specifically to see Huang Chengwang from the Great Xia. May I ask you to bring him out?"

Kuofei and Gucun were both startled...

Kuofei asked, "See Huang Chengwang? Why?"

"Because an hour ago, he came to my Royal Research Institute, killed Mr. Watanabe, slaughtered eight security personnel, and stole the Purple Magic Stone that we were guarding with heavy forces!"

"What?" Kuofei and everyone around him were shocked...

Even one of the soldiers by the door was stunned. She looked at the other soldier beside her, filled with disbelief...

She was Changye! And the person she was looking at was Lin Xiaosu!

Stole the Purple Magic Stone? Where was the stone? No! It was impossible! He didn't have the Purple Magic Stone on him at all.

The director was lying! Why lie? There could only be one reason: the Royal Research Institute wanted to use this opportunity to shut the mouths of others who wanted the stone. When the stone was in their hands, the Black Dragon Society wanted it. Now, by telling them the stone had been stolen—and by their own person, no less—who else could demand the stone from them?

What an old fox. He could cleverly transform a sudden crisis into a bargaining chip in his favor.

He had truly seen it all now!

General Kuofei said, "That is absolutely impossible! Huang Chengwang... Huang Chengwang is in the VIP room. He hasn't left the island since yesterday."

Gucun’s expression changed drastically as he stepped forward. "Director Yetong, was the Purple Magic Stone really stolen?"

Both men’s reactions seemed so genuine. But no matter how realistic the performance was, it proved nothing, for in the Black Dragon Society, or among those involved with it, who was actually normal? Their acting skills were all masterful.

Director Yetong said coldly, "If Huang Chengwang is still in the VIP room, why not invite him out to meet face-to-face?"

Kuofei turned his head. "Someone! Bring Huang Chengwang here!"

Behind him, two soldiers flickered and vanished from their spots—their footwork was uncannily strange.

The atmosphere in the hall began to grow heavy...

Soon, an elderly man with graying hair walked in through another door. His face was filled with suspicion and uncertainty, showing both fear and confusion...